168 The Nomenclature of Agricultural Plants. [May, 



concrete proof, and where no conclusive evidence is forth- 

 coming, it is impossible, on account of the proprietary interests 

 involved, to give instances, however strong the presumptive 

 evidence may be. 



Wheat. — The above should be borne in mind when studying 

 such a brochure as " Dunns on Seed Wheats " — the most 

 complete modern catalogue of wheats which has fallen into our 

 hands — for it is obvious that a publication of this nature 

 cannot but be absolutely tied down to accepted fact. Even so, 

 concerning the list which it contains of over 425 names, it 

 says: ' ' It is not suggested that they are all distinct varieties. 

 Essex Rough Chaff, Kentish Red Chaff, Square Head's 

 Masters have at least a dozen names, each in different 

 localities." Seventy-five names are mentioned as being used 

 for varieties still grown in the United Kingdom, but from the 

 notes given it is obvious that they cannot represent over (but 

 probably far less than) 60 varieties. 



An additional complication arises out of the use in many cases 

 of one name for several varieties; for example, there are white 

 chaffed and red chaffed wheats both known as Browick, and 

 it is the common practice to call all bearded autumn-sown 

 wheats either Rivetts or Cones, and they include both red and 

 white grained varieties. 



Oats. — There is the same confusion in the case of oats; it is 

 difficult to say how many different " varieties " are in 

 existence, none of which show any visible difference from 

 " Abundance." Mr. C. W. S. Marquand, of the University 

 College of North Wales, Aberystwyth, states that, as a result 

 of a study of a very large number of samples, he has come to 

 the conclusion that many so-called " varieties " are morpho- 

 logically indistinguishable, but that he is not yet in a position 

 to express an opinion as regards their physiological identity. 



Grasses and Clovers. — Here the position is somewhat 

 different; the number of varietal names is small, but there 

 is a profusion of strains with purely local, and probably 

 mythical, reputations. Only a very small number are the 

 result of conscious effort towards improvement, nor have their 

 claims ever been submitted to crucial test. Mr. S. P. Mercer has 

 already pointed out the confusion which exists where Red Clover 

 is concerned, enumerating the following names which are in 

 use without any strict adherence to any system by which it 

 would be possible to tell whether the strains were of ordinary 

 Broad Red. or of the true late-flowering type. " The names, 



